Relationship Problems Psychologist

Relationship Issues

Interpersonal relationships are at the heart of the human experience, and connecting with others is a fundamental human need. Troubled relationships or struggling to connect with others can have significant psychological, emotional, and social consequences. 

All close relationships will experience a level of disconnect or conflict sometimes, as we all need to navigate differences in opinions, beliefs, perspectives, and desires. Chronic relationship issues, however, are linked to poorer mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being, and can impact other relationships with family, friends, and work colleagues. Moreover, children exposed to high levels of conflict in the home are at a greater risk of developing problems including anxiety, depression, behavioural issues, and poorer physical health.

Potential causes of relationship issues include:

• Past Experiences – upbringing, parental conflict/divorce, abuse

• Life Transitions – including moving in together, getting married, having a baby, change in career, “mid-life crisis”, children moving out of home, retirement

• Stress – personal stress impacts our closest relationships most and can inadvertently result in dissatisfaction within the relationship. This includes stress related to financial concerns, workplace problems, extended family/in-law issues, health issues, and balancing the needs of caring for children as well as ageing parents

• Thought Patterns – related to how people think about themselves, their partner, and their relationship. When problems arise, a couple can blame each other or see the partnership through a negative lens, and this can lead to greater conflict or withdrawal from the relationship.

• Behaviour Patterns – criticism, defensiveness, disrespect, stonewalling/”silent treatment”, gaslighting, and other unhealthy, unhelpful interpersonal behaviours signify that a relationship is in crisis.

How Our Psychologist Can Help

Learning more respectful, beneficial, and effective ways to communicate and navigate interpersonal challenges is crucial for building healthy, functional relationships. Our relationship problems psychologist provides an understanding, safe, and nurturing environment where we use proven clinical therapeutic strategies to address issues related to communication challenges, behavioural patterns, trust issues, intimacy concerns, and feelings of rejection. Our therapeutic approach is tailored for each client and may include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – addresses negative thinking patterns, challenging unhelpful beliefs and behaviours to foster healthier interaction and communication.

• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) – couples therapy focused on understanding and addressing emotional distress, negative interactions, attachment patterns, and emotional processing in relationships to create a more stable, supportive bond.

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) – focuses on addressing issues in the client’s relationships and their expectations of others to find new, more beneficial ways to develop and nurture relationships, express emotions, resolve conflict, and adapt to change.

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) – treatment that focuses on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and problem-solving to improve the dynamics within a relationship to manage conflict and improve communication.

• Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) – supports individuals experiencing relationship difficulties by helping them to identify their core values, observe thoughts and emotions, and non-judgementally learn to resolve conflict.

Reach Out To Us For Help

Our clinically trained psychologists use evidence-based therapies to help our clients with a vast array of issues, including those concerning interpersonal relationships. We welcome you to consult with us at our Melbourne Bayside clinic (conveniently located for Hampton and Brighton) or via our Telehealth service.